Liberals, radicals and the politics of black consciousness, 1969-1976
Date
1989-07-24
Authors
Rich, Paul
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Abstract
The period from the demise of the Liberal Party in 1968, following the
introduction of the Prohibition of Political Interference Act, to the
1976 Soweto students revolt can be seen as an important transitional
period in South African politics that requires re-evaluation by students
of contemporary history. These years mark in particular the eclipse of
a tradition of paternalistic welfare liberalism in South Africa
stretching back to the inter-war years and the foundation of the South
African Institute of Race Relations in 1929. At the same time they also
pinpoint the re-emergence of a tradition of democratic radicalism
anchored around the Freedom Charter after its initial suppression at
the time of the State of Emergency in 1960 and the banning of the
P.A.C. and A.N.C. These two traditions have often confused in the
minds of some analysts and a recent volume of essays has effectively
sought to claim most of the recent phase of liberalism in South Africa
in terms of a programme of democratic participation, despite the
refusal of the Liberal party to take part in the organisation behind
the freedom Charter in 1955.
Description
African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented 24 July 1989. Not to be quoted without the Author's permission.
Keywords
Black Consciousness Movement of South Africa, South African Institute of Race Relations, Liberalism. South Africa, South Africa. Politics and government,1961-1978